Warbird Information Exchange

It is snowing again! Anybody coming out to ski will find good conditions, however I am stiil trying to fly over to the front range for service on a prop govenor, and no luck. Yesterday was beautiful blue skies, but too windy again. I did go take my written test for CFI, and passed, but not with an A I had hoped for. So soon I'll begin to prep for the flying part.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Enjoy the break before the big day Bill. My CFI test experience was: after hours of the oral test drilling, the brain was a bit noodled for the flight test directly afterward. It was a very windy day (about 15 years ago), and I fortunately passed on 1st attempt. It was nice to see my instructors eyes light up when I got back and gave the news. I had heard once that the pass rate was only 33% or so for the first go at it (I have no idea how accurate that is, however). What model of plane are you using for the test?

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Life's a Pitts

I remember my CFI checkride very well.
Flew down to the FSDO the night before and got a hotel room so as to get a good nights rest. Lugged my huge pile of junk into the examiners office and we started at 09:30. Talked about anything and everything regarding regs, aerodynamics, teaching, learning, etc. We covered anything you can imagine in two hours. At 11:30 we broke for lunch to be back at 13:00. Came back and the examiner briefed me on what she was looking for, how she would conduct the flight and what she expected from me. She commented that during the ride she would switch from a pre-solo "student" to a BFR to a commercial candidate. We did every maneuver in the PTS with me doing some or her doing some while I coached and critiqued. At one point about 2500 AGL she pulled the power and said make the runway of a airport we were near (the old Byron, Ca airport for those who know. Short and narrow) I did the whole engine out drill while spiraling down and touched down on the numbers. As we turned around and were taxiing she commented "Well, I guess I don't need to see a spot landing." The rest of the flight went as well and in no time we were back in the FSDO. Shook my hand said nice job and sent me on my way. About five years later a student came to me with a regs question that I could not find the answer to. I called the FSDO and got transfered to her out of luck. I recognized her name and introduced myself. She stopped me and said "I remember you. Why are you calling me? You had the answer to any question I ever asked you." I laughed and thanked her for the compliment and explained my question. She got back to me the next day with the answer (don't even recall now what the question was).
If you show up for the exam and can answer most of the questions or know where to find the answers to the rest, then fly the airplane accurately while keeping a running comentrary going then you pretty much can't fail.

greetings from the frozen tundra, my daughter is working at Brenkenridge this winter on a 6 month visa, this past weekend they were snowboarding at Steamboat Springs with 2' of fresh snow - she said it was heaven!

and more CO low's heading my way.

Will you be bringing your Spit to OSH and perhaps to the gathering of mustangs on Oho this fall - just wondering?
-ken

Kenair, thanks. I have not been invited to the Mustang Gathering, tho they do have a few non 51 fighters going. I went to the one in Fla. years ago as a spectator and it was good. I was standing there for a group takeoff with Gen. Robin Olds , a pretty macho guy and he had tears in his eyes as he said it reminded him of all the Mustangs going out on a mission and ones that didn't come back. I had dinner with Lee Archer, those are special memories. I had hopes of scoring a 51 back seat ride, but no results. So I can either go to Ohio as a spectator, or go to Midland as a pilot, and I am a CAF life member. The addition of the jet teams and acro acts sort of changes the focus at the Gathering, but may enhance revenue to pay for it all. So this blather means I don't know, I may take a look at weather for each place. It was none too good in Dayton last weekend. I always plan to go to Oshkosh, the Warbird show can be average, but all the people make it feel like home and if the weather is bad there is still much to do.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Jeese out of all people not "scoring" A ride. Ride in a Mustang (mmmmm many 2 seaters) for a ride in a 2 seat Spit (hmmm what 2???). I thought I had a chance when I went, brought my N.O.S Mag Switch W/ NAA Yellow tag as a trade...........................then thought, naaw been there done that .................Former CF-FUZZ

Now if I had some spitfire parts............


Guess I will wait for Garry to get his LAKE Austin PBY in the air and I'll trade him my Goodyear PBY Wheel cover:)

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Bill,

I asked the Mustang Gathering POC if I could fly my T-33 in, and she said only WWII aircraft allowed at the show. I wasn't totally surprised they shunned my kerosene burner, but I am surprised to hear they said no to a Spit. Are they that short on ramp space or just being very narrowly focused on aircraft types (except for six red, white, and blue lawn darts)?

Hope you're taking advantage of the powder!

We got sufficent snow to submerge a small Sasquatch, it finally let up this afternoon long enough to go out to the airport and try to sweep off some of the Spitfire shaped pile of white that I think my plane is under. The 18 knot north wind made it not a fun experience. I am hunkered down like a cop in a donut shop.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Sorry troops but in my opinion, the desire to play in the snow is a sure sign of a sick mind.

Mudge the warm blooded

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Land of the free because of the brave

What! It's not really out in the snow is it???

I went skiing today, Sat. in ideal snow and blue skies! I saw a sight not common around here lately, a plane flying around the valley. This afternoon I went out to the airport and got most of the ice off the plane. It is still a little cold, about 22 F, but is forecast to get warmer and good VFR the next two days. Yes, I don't have a hangar so keep the plane outside, just as they were in service. Don't think snow hurt them much, but UV is hard on the paint in the summer.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Bill, I spent the first 25 years of my life in Minnesota, I don't care for snow much anymore, it was in the 70s here this past week . Here's a Spit story for you. My Dad was a crew chief in the 109th. Tac recon squadron in WWII. they had Spit V's for a while. One story he would tell is sitting in the cockpit on a windy day and he would get the Spit rocking on its "alighting gear" by moving the ailerons back and forth. His Spitfire fuselage code was VX * M.